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Peavy scratched from start as Deadline approaches

Peavy scratched from start as Deadline approaches

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Peavy's eighth win 1:13

7/25/13: Jake Peavy strikes out seven over seven frames against the Tigers, earning his eighth victory of the season

By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

CLEVELAND -- Jake Peavy remained a member of the Chicago White Sox less than 24 hours before Wednesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline of 3 p.m. CT, but he did not make his scheduled start Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

The right-handed hurler was pushed back to Wednesday, and Andre Rienzo, who arrived from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday night, got the call Tuesday. Peavy didn't need to provide motive for the move, other than ongoing trade discussions for general manager Rick Hahn.

"Obviously, that's pretty self-explanatory with me not losing value to throwing 110 or so pitches tonight," Peavy said. "When you're talked about being traded and the team you're being traded to, you either pitch sometime soon and lose value, or not being able to go until Sunday or Monday, at the earliest, if you're pitching tonight.

"Certainly, I understand. Just playing the waiting game, finding out what's going to happen here at the last minute, and there's a lot of talk and a lot of stuff going on. I'm right here, right now, and that's all I can do and can say until something's official. Crazy times, but I don't have too much longer."

Boston, St. Louis and Oakland had been mentioned most over the past few weeks where acquiring Peavy's services were concerned, but Arizona emerged as a late candidate on Tuesday. Kevin Towers, the D-backs general manager, actually drafted Peavy when running the Padres in 1999 and is very familiar with the right-hander from their time together into 2009.

In fact, it was Towers who traded Peavy to the White Sox at the 2009 non-waiver Trade Deadline. Picking up Peavy this time might be a little trickier for Towers, who would need to free up money to take on the $5.28 million owed to Peavy for the rest of the 2013 season, as well his $14.5 million in 2014 and the $4 million buyout from a previous contract.

Playing for Towers would give Peavy an extra level of comfort, not to mention joining a National League playoff contender.

"It helps me know a little bit of the insides of the situation, but if that was a place I were to end up going, it would be a comfortable place for me, just because of the relationships I have," said Peavy. "I've been in contact with people who have pretty good knowledge of what's going on and I know there are some talks and we'll see the way it plays out."

Rienzo threw a seven-inning no-hitter in his last start against Triple-A Indianapolis, striking out 11, and has allowed seven earned runs over his last 43 2/3 innings pitched. He becomes the first Brazilian-born pitcher to appear in a Major League game, joining Cleveland catcher Yan Gomes as the only big league players from the country. The right-hander pitched for Brazil in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and has a 4.06 ERA over 20 starts for the Knights, including 113 strikeouts over 113 innings pitched.

Whether Rienzo stays in the rotation past Tuesday depends more on Peavy's situation probably than his on-field results. Peavy's last trade took place while he was taking a nap with his kids and was sealed minutes before the Deadline.

At that point, Peavy had a full no-trade clause and control of where he was going. The White Sox wanted him, and there's some in the organization who want to keep him now as a talented, veteran influence on a young rotation.

So, it would be surprising, but not quite stunning, if Peavy made his start Wednesday against the Indians.

"I guess it would be a little bit odd because of how much speculation, but at the end of the day, I would be doing myself, my teammates and the franchise a disservice if I don't get ready for that," Peavy said. "Today is just like yesterday, watch more video. I get to take another Cleveland Indian game in and find a way, game-plan-wise, a way to beat them and get my body prepared to pitch. But the next 24 hours will be a relief on us all when we have some direction on what my future holds."

"For Rick, it's his option of keeping him open," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Tuesday's pitching switch. "It's better that he doesn't pitch tonight. You get to that deadline to either do something or do nothing, but again, it gives him more options to see how things play out."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.